Nurse practitioner center expands access to primary care

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Primary Care Services
• Nurse Practitioner Practice

Background:

• Addressing primary care physician shortages in underserved areas.
• Increasing patient demand for accessible healthcare services.
• Utilizing advanced practice providers to meet community needs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a nurse practitioner-staffed primary care center.
• To assess improvements in patient access to primary care.
• To determine the effect on emergency room utilization for nonurgent conditions.

Main Methods:

• Establishment of a not-for-profit primary care center by Oconee Memorial Hospital.
• Staffing the center exclusively with nurse practitioners.
• Monitoring patient access, emergency room usage, and community primary care base.

Main Results:

• Enhanced patient access to primary care services.
• Reduced nonurgent emergency room visits.
• Strengthened community primary care infrastructure.
• Facilitated winning managed care network contracts.

Conclusions:

• Nurse practitioner-led primary care centers can effectively improve healthcare access.
• These centers can alleviate pressure on emergency departments for nonurgent cases.
• Such models contribute to a robust community primary care system and support healthcare network growth.